A method for synthesizing a chiral -hydroxy acid ester compound is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: using an aldehyde compound and a monoalkyl malonate as raw materials, using a metal and a chiral ligand as a catalyst to make the raw materials be directly and fully reacted in an organic solvent and form a reaction solution, and separating and purifying the reaction solution to obtain the highly stereoselective -hydroxy acid ester compound. The beneficial effects are mainly embodied in: 1. simple operation; 2. rapidly constructing a highly stereoselective -hydroxy acid ester skeleton structure molecule; 3. high reaction yield and good stereoselectivity. Therefore, the invention has high basic research significance, industrial production value and social economic benefit.

Polymerisation catalysts and systems comprising said catalysts for polymerising carbon dioxide and an epoxide, a lactide and/or lactone, and/or an epoxide and an anhydride. The catalyst is of formula (I):

##STR00001##

Wherein M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 are independently selected from Zn(II), Cr(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Mg(II), Fe(II), Ti(II), V(II), Cr(III)-X, Co(III)-X, Ni(III)-X, Mn(III)-X, Fe(III)-X, Ca(II), Ge(II), AI(III)-X, Ti(III)-X, V(III)-X, Ge(IV)-(X).sub.2 or Ti(IV)-(X).sub.2. R.sub.3A is different from R.sub.3B; and/or at least one occurrence of E.sub.3, E.sub.4, E.sub.5 and E.sub.6 is different to a remaining occurrence of E.sub.3, E.sub.4, E.sub.5 and E.sub.6. A ligand, a process of asymmetric N-substitution of a symmetrical ligand and a process for the reaction of: (i) carbon dioxide with an epoxide; (ii) an epoxide and an anhydride; and/or (iii) a lactide and/or a lactone, in the presence of a catalyst is also described.

Provided herein is a compound of formula (I): ##STR00001##
wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-8 alkyl, C.sub.1-8 heteroalkyl having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S, C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl, 3-10 membered heterocycloalkyl having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S, C.sub.6-10 aryl, and 5-10 membered heteroaryl having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S; each X is independently selected from OH, PAr.sub.2, P(O)Ar.sub.2, OPAr.sub.2, C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl, 3-10 membered heterocycloalkyl having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S or each X together form O.sub.2PNR.sub.2; Ar is C.sub.6-10aryl; and each R is independently selected from hydrogen and C.sub.1-8 alkyl. Also provided are methods of making and using the compound of formula (I).

The present invention relates to the field of polymerisation catalysts, and systems comprising said catalysts for polymerising carbon dioxide and an epoxide, a lactide and/or lactone, and/or an epoxide and an anhydride. The catalyst is of formula (I): ##STR00001## Wherein M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 are independently selected from Zn(II), Cr(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Mg(II), Fe(II), Ti(II), V(II), Cr(III)-X, Co(III)-X, Ni(III)-X, Mn(III)-X, Fe(III)-X, Ca(II), Ge(II), Al(III)-X, Ti(III)-X, V(III)-X, Ge(IV)-(X).sub.2 or Ti(IV)-(X).sub.2. R.sub.3A is different from R.sub.3B; and/or at least one occurrence of E.sub.3, E.sub.4, E.sub.5 and E.sub.6 is different to a remaining occurrence of E.sub.3, E.sub.4, E.sub.5 and E.sub.6. A ligand, a process of asymmetric N-substitution of a symmetrical ligand and a process for the reaction of: (i) carbon dioxide with an epoxide; (ii) an epoxide and an anhydride; and/or (iii) a lactide and/or a lactone, in the presence of a catalyst is also described.

The method of the present invention for converting a nitrile functional group into a hydroxamic acid functional group can be easily performed at room temperature and under normal pressure by using a peroxocobalt complex. The final hydroxamic acid functional group produced through the intermediate Hydroximatocobalt (III) compound or the derivative comprising the same has been known to be able to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, so that the conversion method of the present invention can be applied to the preparation of a pro-drug for anticancer treatment.

A process to produce a branched ethylene--olefin diene elastomer comprising combining a catalyst precursor and an activator with a feed comprising ethylene, C3 to C12 -olefins, and a dual-polymerizable diene to obtain a branched ethylene--olefin diene elastomer; where the catalyst precursor is selected from pyridyldiamide and quinolinyldiamido transition metal complexes. The branched ethylene--olefin diene elastomer may comprise within a range from 40 to 80 wt % of ethylene-derived units by weight of the branched ethylene--olefin diene elastomer, and 0.1 to 2 wt % of singly-polymerizable diene derived units, 0.1 to 2 wt % of singly-polymerizable diene derived units, and the remainder comprising C3 to C12 -olefin derived units, wherein the branched ethylene--olefin diene elastomer has a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) within a range from 100 kg/mole to 300 kg/mole, an average branching index (g.sub.avg) of 0.9 or more, and a branching index at very high M.sub.w (g.sub.1000) of less than 0.9.

A process to produce a branched ethylene--olefin diene elastomer comprising combining a catalyst precursor and an activator with a feed comprising ethylene, C3 to C12 -olefins, and a dual-polymerizable diene to obtain a branched ethylene--olefin diene elastomer; where the catalyst precursor is selected from pyridyldiamide and quinolinyldiamido transition metal complexes. The branched ethylene--olefin diene elastomer may comprise within a range from 40 to 80 wt % of ethylene-derived units by weight of the branched ethylene--olefin diene elastomer, and 0.1 to 2 wt % of singly-polymerizable diene derived units, 0.1 to 2 wt % of singly-polymerizable diene derived units, and the remainder comprising C3 to C12 -olefin derived units, wherein the branched ethylene--olefin diene elastomer has a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) within a range from 100 kg/mole to 300 kg/mole, an average branching index (g.sub.avg) of 0.9 or more, and a branching index at very high M.sub.w (g.sub.1000) of less than 0.9.

The present invention provides a novel catalyst of formula (I): wherein M is selected from Zn(H), Co(II), Mn(II), Mg(II), Fe(II), Cr(III)X or Fe(III)X, and the use thereof in polymerizing carbon dioxide and an epoxide.

The method of the present invention for converting a nitrile functional group into a hydroxamic acid functional group can be easily performed at room temperature and under normal pressure by using a peroxocobalt complex. The final hydroxamic acid functional group produced through the intermediate Hydroximatocobalt (III) compound or the derivative comprising the same has been known to be able to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, so that the conversion method of the present invention can be applied to the preparation of a pro-drug for anticancer treatment.

Provided herein is a compound of formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-8 alkyl, C.sub.1-8 heteroalkyl having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S, C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl, 3-10 membered heterocycloalkyl having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S, C.sub.6-10 aryl, and 5-10 membered heteroaryl having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S; each X is independently selected from OH, PAr.sub.2, P(O)Ar.sub.2, OPAr.sub.2, C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl, 3-10 membered heterocycloalkyl having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S or each X together form O.sub.2PNR.sub.2; Ar is C.sub.6-10aryl; and each R is independently selected from hydrogen and C.sub.1-8 alkyl. Also provided are methods of making and using the compound of formula (I).